Magazine dispensing and housing apparatus for firearms

ABSTRACT

A magazine dispensing and housing apparatus for firearms incorporates a housing and a biasing apparatus. The housing comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall. The biasing apparatus is disposed at the rear wall of the housing. The biasing apparatus is comprised of a biasing member and a biasing element. The biasing member is affixed with the biasing element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates with firearms and more specifically relates with an apparatus and system for housing and dispensing ammunition for firearms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today's trained soldiers are encumbered with many different objects, weapons and other gear which they must carry around when they must deploy to various places. These soldiers may carry over 50 pounds of equipment on their bodies or other bags. Such items may include a machine gun, water, food, ammunition, personal effects, computer equipment, telecommunications devices, etc.

Naturally, carrying around all of these items is very tiresome and difficult for them due to their weight, but also due to their ungainliness in organization. For instance, many of their items are not packaged and bundled into nice, neat, and comfortable packages. Instead, they are used individually in separate units.

One example of this ungainliness are the magazines of ammunition used with many machine guns. These magazines are typically carried around by the soldiers individually rather than as a pre-packaged bundle. As a result, all of these magazines of ammunition must be tarried around in a bag or be carried in a separate stowaway place such as a vehicle. Therefore, as a consequence the soldier may only have one magazine in the firearm and about 5 magazines awkwardly interspersed in a bag. In some situations, this ammunition may not be enough in an unexpected battle.

Aside from its use in military applications law enforcement and counter-terrorism forces face similar difficulties. This is especially true when automatic firearms are needed in various situations.

Therefore, what is clearly needed in the marketplace is a system and apparatus for housing several different magazines into one container. Moreover, this container should also be compatible and adaptable for use with standard military vests outfitted with various loops for easy carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and apparatus enable a soldier to carry around many magazines of ammunition on his person at all times. By having access to more ammunition at all times, soldiers will not be caught in a fight without enough quickly accessible ammunition. The present invention may also be equally expedient with law enforcement or counter-terrorism forces.

It is an object of the present invention to provide ammunition housing device capable of being used with standard military jackets with loops of fabric. This device should have its own straps for use in affixing the housing with the vest of a military jacket.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an housing which is designed and configured in such a way to enable a soldier to quickly re-load the magazines into his firearm without excessive movements and without looking at his magazines and firearms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a frontal view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 a is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 b is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 c is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 a. is a frontal view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 b. is a frontal view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 c. is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a unique system, and apparatus is used to safely and comfortably carry magazine-filled ammunition receptacles in a dispenser and housing system. The present invention is described in enabling detail below.

For the purposes of the present invention the term “magazine” shall hereafter refer and describe those housing units typically associated with machine guns such as M-16's or other firearms which house ammunition such as bullets.

For the purposes of the present invention the term “bias” shall hereafter refer to the mechanical force used to consistently supply force for purposes such as retaining or extruding various articles.

For the purposes of the present invention the term “coil” shall hereafter refer to an elongate metallic member shaped into a coiled configuration.

For the purposes of the present invention the term “firearm” shall hereafter refer any instrument used to fire projectiles. With respect to the present invention, the primary firearms intended to be used are machine guns. However, the present invention should not be limited in scope to only machine guns. It may be practical and possible to implement the present invention with other firearms including shotguns, rifles, and toy rifles (such as compressed air paint ball type firearms”). Therefore, the present invention should not be limited in scope to only machine guns.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term detent refers to a biased member resiliently-engaged for the purpose of mating with an orifice of another apparatus or article.

FIG. 1-10 c illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A magazine dispensing and housing apparatus 100 for firearms includes: a housing 101 and a biasing apparatus 102. The magazine is denoted by figure number 125. It should be noted that the magazine is not considered as part of the present invention. The dashed lines 175 represent the periphery of the housing where the magazines are inserted and extracted.

The housing comprises a first side wall 103, a second side wall 104, a front wall 105, a rear wall 106, a top wall 107, and a bottom wall 108. The biasing apparatus is disposed at the rear wall of the housing. The biasing apparatus is comprised of a biasing member 109 and a biasing element 110.

The biasing member is a planar member resiliently disposed against the magazine. The biasing member is affixed with the biasing element. In some preferred embodiments the biasing element may be a spring, whereas in other preferred embodiments the biasing member may be a coil 201 as illustrated in FIG. 8. As FIG. 8 illustrates, in some preferred embodiments the coil is in contact with the biasing member 109 and creates resilient force with the biasing member.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view or profile of the housing. In some preferred embodiments the housing may be shaped similarly to the profile or outline of a typical magazine. Or, in other preferred embodiments the outline or profile may be a simple rectangular shaped figure. Therefore, the shape of the housing should not be construed to be limiting to the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 7 a illustrates that in some preferred embodiments, the housing may further comprise a detent 111. The detent is disposed on either the first side wall or the second side wall. The detent is sized to mate with a cooperating orifice disposed on the vest cover which is described below.

FIG. 10 a-c illustrates a preferred embodiment further incorporating a plurality of resistance rollers 700. These resistance rollers are disposed along the periphery of the orifice. In this preferred embodiment the orifice for inserting and extracting the magazines from the housing is completely open. These resistance rollers will resiliently move back (as illustrated in FIG. 10 b) when a magazine is inserted and move up when the magazine is in a resting position within the housing (as illustrated in FIG. 10 a). The purpose of the resistance rollers is to enable a user to quickly pull out a magazine without looking at the housing. As FIG. 10 c illustrates, the magazine 125 is jutting out past the orifice slightly which makes it possible for a user to grab the magazine directly and take it out with ease of use.

FIGS. 2 and 7 b illustrates a vest cover 300 to be used along with the housing above. The reason why this apparatus is called a vest cover is because it envelopes or covers the housing and also affixes to a military vest which incorporates various loops and straps. The vest cover includes a first side 307, a second side 308, and at least one strap 302. The strap is an elongate member having a first distal end 315 and a second distal end 316. These straps are used to tie into the loops of the military vest as illustrated in FIG. 3.

In some preferred embodiments the vest cover may be comprised of fabric on either the first side, second side, etc. The reason for this is to remain reasonably lightweight yet flexible enough to enclose the housing. In addition, in some preferred embodiments the vest cover and the housing may be painted in a camouflage color such as green on one side, and display a desert camouflage cover on its reverse side. The possibilities are endless.

FIG. 9 illustrates that in some preferred embodiments the vest cover may further incorporate a flange 312 for the purpose of making it easier to push the detent in a downwardly direction into its recessed position. This enables a user to place the housing into the vest cover without having to manually press down the detent first. This flange may be defined or incorporated into either the first side wall or the second side wall.

FIG. 7 b illustrates that in some preferred embodiments where there is a detent incorporated into the housing, there will also be a cooperating detent orifice 325 integrated into the vest cover. This orifice is sized to mate with the detent and is used for the purpose of securing the housing with the vest cover. This detent orifice is disposed on either the first side or the second side of the vest cover.

FIG. 11 illustrates that in some preferred embodiments the vest cover may further incorporate a series of compartments 350. These compartments can be used for storing various objects such as keys, knives, etc. In some preferred embodiments these compartments are made of fabric.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous variations in the present system, configuration and operation that are within the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate how the principles illustrated in these preferred embodiments can be used in other examples of the invention. A particular reference number in one figure refers to the same element in all of the other figures.

Moreover, It will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there are numerous changes that may be made in embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. As such, the invention taught herein by specific examples is limited only by the scope of the claims that follow. 

1. A magazine dispensing and housing apparatus for firearms comprising: a housing, a detent and a biasing apparatus; the housing comprises a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall; the biasing apparatus is disposed at the rear wall of the housing; the biasing apparatus is comprised of a biasing member and a biasing element; the detent is disposed on either the first side wall or the second side wall; the biasing member is affixed with the biasing element.
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 5. The magazine dispensing and housing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of resistance rollers; the resistance rollers are disposed along the periphery of the orifice of the housing.
 6. A vest cover for the purpose of housing the magazine dispensing and housing apparatus for firearms and for affixing the apparatus to the vest of a user comprising: a first side, a second side, and at least one strap; the strap is an elongate member having a first distal end and a second distal end.
 7. The vest cover of claim 6 further comprising at least one button; the button is disposed on the second distal end of the strap.
 8. The vest cover of claim 6 further comprising at least one detent orifice for the purpose of receiving the detent of the magazine dispensing and housing apparatus; the detent orifice is disposed on either the first side or the second side; the detent orifice is sized to receive the detent.
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